(13 March 2020) Not much more to say on Covid-19 except my paper said that 80% of us will get it and half a million will die. Which is a bit worrying.
However today I want to praise the NHS.
I had a cataract operation this week- at an outpost of Moorfields at a local hospital. It seemed to go well and all the staff were extremely courteous and professional. Inevitably, and quite reasonably, they had a session that processed six people in a batch so I was there a few hours.
Nevertheless, it was still at no cost to me other than a cab home. In the USA it would have cost at least $4,000 and possibly more if it was complicated. So much and many plaudits for our glorious NHS.
However my rant is about one of the patients who complained bitterly about not being first on the list (they actually prioritised the order so the people who appeared quite ill went first), not appreciating what they were getting. It demonstrates the false expectation of entitlement and one I will return to in future posts. Sadly I did not remonstrate with him as he had someone with him who was also angry and had many more muscles than those that protrude from my body.
Oh well; here’s a kitten.
I’m delighted to hear your ophthalmic news!
Cataracts are a good choice. If you want a curable eye condition, go for cataracts. They have been treatable since the 1860s, when that famous father, the Reverend Bronte, a typical scientific Victorian clergyman, had his removed in a fairly experimental operation.
Mrs Thatcher was the first to introduce the concept of choice in health matters, you may remember. Choice of hospital, doctor, ailment – it’s up to you, she said. When I found that I had selected cataracts, not glaucoma, I couldn’t help feeling a bit smug and happy.
A charming ophthalmologist at Western Eye Hospital with slender, careful fingers was certain that I could be discharged from the glaucoma clinic but I sat firm and told her there was definite sight loss. She re-examined the huge colour photos of the insides of my eyes and exclaimed, “Cataracts! You’ve got cataracts!” How I beamed and thanked her. My next inspection has been postponed from May to July but I am not worried. Thank you NHS, for allowing me my preferred eye condition.